What do Step-Up and Step-Down Transformers do?

What do Step-Up and Step-Down Transformers do?
How can you power 220 – 230 – 240 Volt Equipment from Ordinary 110 – 120 Volt Outlets

Oftentimes owners of electrical items doubt if they should use a 240 v 50 hz
item in the United States or Canada. If you have purchased an item in
Europe, Africa, Asia or parts of South America there is a good chance it
will run on 230 v 50 hz compared to 120 v 60 hz in North America. Rather
than plugging this item directly into a socket or adapter most will want to
know if they can safely use the item without any fear or the product burning
out or worse, causing electrocution.

An example of a plug adapter

For most household appliances and electrical items you will need aStep up and down voltage converter
because the mains frequency in Europe, Asia and Africa (230 volts) is 50 hz
compared to 60 hz in the United States, Canada and parts of northern South
America. The major difference e is in how the neural wiring is connection.

A 240 volt 50 Hz appliance can have up to 3 wires altogether:

one single 240 volt "live" or "hot" wire;

a neutral wire;

a safety "earth" or "ground" wire but this is not required if
the appliance is of the type known as "double insulated".

An appliance or electrical item designed to run on a 240/120 volt 60
Hz supply can have up to 4 wires altogether:

two 120 volt 60 Hz live "hot legs" which run in opposing phase
to one another: when one hot leg goes "+" (120 volts positive)
the other leg goes "-" (120 volts negative);

a neutral wired as a "central" common current return conductor:

a safety "ground" wire but this is not required if the appliance
is of the type known as "double insulated".

When it comes to a power tap voltage converter all you have to do is plug the 220 voltage converter into 110 – 120v outlets, connect 220, 230 or 240v equipment to the 220 outlets and begin use. It is that easy!